Saturday, April 25, 2009

Back From the Dead, CD Update 4-25-09

Back From The Dead

It has been quite an adventure since my last update. About three weeks ago, as musicians and singers were lined up to add their special something, my computer began to act up. The song files were getting quite large but up until that point, everything had been running just great. I couldn’t get the song sequences to play without slowing down or stopping, so I had to think of something fast. Not to panic, I used a stereo rough mix of the song and started a whole new mini file which enabled me to add all of the new parts without taxing my computer. I would just figure out what was wrong after I got everybody recorded. After a long week of overdubs, I tried to figure out what the heck had happened to my sessions and no matter what I did, the problem persisted. It was like one of my processors had gone south and the computer couldn’t keep up. I did all the tests and the computer was fine. I then checked for any kind of virus or corruption and everything was clean. I tried talking to music software techs and nothing helped. I then called my buddy/composer, Steve Bauman, who basically has the same gear as me and together, we can usually get things worked out. Not this time! I had a few ideas left and tried them. I went to a newer version of Digital Performer, thinking that my software had somehow gone bad but that didn’t work either and caused a whole new set of problems. The new software was trying to analyze the song data and was trying to time-correct it as it was loading which was a really bad idea. I had one more trick up my sleeve which usually solves everything. I purchased a new hard drive and did a clean install of everything and held my breath as we booted up. Things got worse. When we opened up a song, each individual track played with its’ own tempo and none of them played together. Now I was beginning to get panicked. What if the data somehow was ruined and the last five months of work was lost? Steve (Bauman) had an idea. He owned a more powerful Mac than the one we were having problems with and offered it to me to see if that would solve the problem. I had to install everything into his computer and once everything was loaded, we opened up a song. It played perfectly!!!!! I had already lost over a week of mix time and called David Appelt, the mixing engineer, and we have been mixing now for eight straight days and have just started mixing our sixth song. I haven’t been tested like this since my first disaster night of mixing the music for 'Promised Land' where everything that could go wrong did. I ended up working all night and walked into the session at eight o’clock the next morning with the music completed. Sometimes I feel that the powers that be test all of us at times to see how we all handle severe adversities. It was like I was having too much fun and had to be slapped upside the head one more time as a reminder of just how lucky I am to be making such a cool new record. I know it sounds a little out there but you are talking to a songwriter and I still haven’t figured out where those magical ideas come from. I know that surviving that horrid week will make me stronger and will make me appreciate the project even more when it’s done.

To date, all of the recording is over with unless Timothy B. Schmidt decides to sing on a song. He hasn’t said yes yet, but he is leaving the door open just a crack. I would like to thank singers George Merrill, Dan Navarro, Gary Falcone, Andrea Robinson, Lily Wilson, Harry Stinson, Matt Batdorf, Bill Batstone, James Lee Stanley, Michael McLean, and Steve Bauman for their efforts. I’d also like to thank musicians Greg Leisz, Michael Dowdle, James Harrah, Phil Parlapiano, Kevin Dukes, Tom Walsh, Bill Batstone, Luke Halpin, Mark Browne, and Fred Sokol for their wonderful performances. Also thanks to David Appelt and Steve Bauman for their awesome tech help. Last but not least, I want to thank each and every one of you who have contributed and made it possible to make this CD. We still have to raise money for mastering, manufacturing, professional promotion and advertising so everyone can hear this music.

I will send a pre-mastered mix of "What D'ya Got?" to all new contributors to the project who donate upwards of $100.00**; AND if you love it, I would greatly appreciate it if you could do two things:

-tell me what you think so we can use your thoughts to inspire others who have not yet contributed - to get involved the way you have, and

-share it with your friends and maybe they too can help this project come to its fruition.

Thank you,

John Batdorf

4-25-09

**in addtion to all previously stated investment participation "awards"

Paypal Contributions can be sent direct to John at johnbatdorf@att.net

For a list of investment participation "awards", please reference this post: "Maybe I'm Not Dreamin' After All"


Sunday, April 19, 2009

John Batdorf NorCal Weekend Tour 5/15-16-17

Friday, 15 May 2009 @ 7:30pm
Acoustic Friday
Bev Barnett & Greg Newlon, John Batdorf and Megan Slankard

2221 The Alameda, Santa Clara, CA
http://www.TrueWindMusic.com/HC/
Price: $15.00 cash at the door
Reservations Suggested

Notes: Every third Friday of the month, Bev Barnett & Greg Newlon are joined by two guest acts for a terrific night of music where you never know what's going to happen. In the first half of the show, Bev & Greg do a few songs then each of the guests do a short solo set. After a break, all reconvene on stage for a Nashville-style guitar pull, sharing songs and stories "in the round" style. The evening progresses at the whim of the moment and you may hear a bummer round, a cover round, an off color round, a romantic round... or all of the above.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Saturday, 16 May 2009 @ 7:30pm
John Batdorf @ Foster City House Concerts

1461 Marlin Avenue, Foster City, CA 94404
RSVP to glaserk@hotmail.com by May 12th; Seating is limited to 45
Suggested Donation: $15.00 per person (All proceeds go to the performer).
Doors open at 6:30 PM for lasagna and salad. Please bring other food and/or beverage of choice to share with the crowd.
Performance begins at 7:30
Directions: Townhouse Complex at Marlin and Beach Park Blvd. Park anywhere and walk into the complex. The rec room is by the pool and in front of 1461 Marlin. Map available at
http://www.reverbnation.com/ venue/fostercityhouseconcerts

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sunday, 17 May 2009 @ 4pm
John Batdorf @ Castle Fuggetta House Concert

San Jose, CA
Limited Seating -- RSVP to castlefuggetta@gmail.com by May 14th
Suggested Donation: $15.00 per person (All proceeds go to the performer).
Doors open at 3:15pm
Address & Directions provided with reservation
See Facebook Evite Link for more information

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

"Borrowing" - Anthem at Rochester MI Earth Day Expo 4/18 & 19

"Borrowing" will be played as the Anthem (before and between main stage acts) for the
4th Annual Earth Day Expo, taking place this weekend: April 18th and 19th in Rochester, Michigan.
Admission is Free --
Sat 4/18 - 10am till 6pm
Sun 4/19 - 10am till 4pm
See Website Link for further info.


To listen to the song, please click the following link:
View My MP3MusicGram

Borrowing
by John Batdorf and Michael McLean (c) 1994
BatMac Music (BMI)

and Shining Star Music (ASCAP)

We have not inherited the earth
From our parents when they gave us birth

We are borrowing the sea and land

From our children and their children's children

There's some wisdom engraved in stone
That stands alone on the road not taken.
It's a voice crying from the dust
To all of us in every generation

And it begs us to reconsider
The debt we owe the future
What every borrower should know, oh oh

We have not inherited the earth
From our parents when they gave us birth
We are borrowing the sea and land
From our children and their children's children
Unborn spirit's lay a claim
To the earth that we have borrowed from them

Masquerading as human need
Is all the greed that's fueling the fire

Of American dreams we've dreamed,
That somehow seem so uninspired
In the making of all the choices

who champion's the voices
Of those the earth is borrowed from.....

We have not inherited the earth
From our parents when they gave us birth
We are borrowing the sea and land
From our children and their children's children
Unborn spirit's lay a claim

To the earth that we have borrowed from them

We have not inherited the earth
From our parents when they gave us birth
We are borrowing the sea and land
From our children and their children's children
Unborn spirit's lay a claim

To the earth that we have borrowed from them.

Saturday, April 4, 2009

"Maybe I'm Not Dreamin' After All"

Greetings and Good Day from RMJ Productions!!

John has already privately thanked each and every individual and organization who has contributed to the making of the new CD, "Old Man Dreamin'". John would also like to publicly thank each individual and organization in order of contribution as follows: John and Donna McTernan, Tom Greuling, Douglas West, Jim Weiss, Paul H Mannes, Jeff Ferguson, Kelpie Powers, RMJ Productions, Mother Hen Promotions, Russ & Julie Paris, Bruce Hackett, Charlette and Phil Fuggetta, David Platt, Steve Smith, David Schoolman, Jeff Robertson, Joseph Cooper, Stan Little, Sigi Nagys, Pierre and Leigh Marchal, Mark Tamashiro, Michael McLean, Kevin Hains, Ilene Reinhart, Meet Me In the Music, Hollie Ashworth.

Many things have been accomplished on this CD to date, including drums via Tom Walsh, vocals from Bill Batstone, Andrea Robinson, Matt Batdorf, and George Merrill. All of the acoustic guitars are done as are all of Johns' own vocals. Phil Parlapiano played accordion, Mark Browne and Bill Batstone played bass, and Michael Dowdle added electric, acoustic guitars and mandolin. John has also added some dobro and other instrumental overdubs as well.

The production aspects of the CD keep moving forward:

Yesterday (Friday, 4/3/09), John added fiddle, mandolin, and vocals with Gary Falcone.

Monday (4/6), more vocals with hopefully Dan Navarro and Lily Wilson

Tuesday (4/7), electric guitar overdubs with James Harrah,

and Wednesday (4/8), pedal steel and lap steel with Greg Leizs.

From that point forward, John will be going through the ODs and getting everything in its place before David Appelt will begin the mix process which normally runs 1 to 2 songs per day so we are looking at another week. After that will come the mix review and fix process in preparation for mastering. The final CD is almost within our grasp but we still need lots of help and contributions to get it done.

Money-wise, the above work will cost around $6,000. plus another $2,000. for manufacturing and $3-5,000. for print magazine ads and professional radio promotion. These amounts may be daunting in total but individually, we can all make a difference; remember that this CD belongs to all of us as contributors as much as it does to John, as creator/producer and artist.

In addition to the awards that have already been offered up till now (reiterated below for your reference), John would now also like to offer a pre-mastered full song mix with every $100.00 contribution going forward. If you are interested in trying to get together a contribution co-op with your friends, please email rmjprod@gmail.com to get another copy of the co-op letter for your use.

Investment Participation Levels

ALL CONTRIBUTORS will receive:

-updates as to the progress of the CD together with an exclusive "work-in-progress" mix of three of the songs,

-an mp3 download of the new CD as soon as it is mastered,

-a contribution credit on Johns' website.

In addition:

$35.00 1 CD

$50.00 1 CD and Poster

$100.00 1 Signed CD and Poster and from this date forward a pre-mastered full song mix of "What D'ya Got?"

$250.00 2 Signed CDs, T-Shirts and Posters

$500.00 5 Signed CDs, T-Shirts and Posters

$1000.00 Johns Entire CD Collection Signed

$1500.00 Johns Entire CD Collection Signed, T-Shirt, Poster And DVD

$3500.00 A New CD Directly From The Mastering Lab Four Weeks Prior To Release, Johns Entire CD Collection Signed, T-Shirt, Poster And DVD.

$5000.00 A New CD Directly From The Mastering Lab Four Weeks Prior To Release, Johns Entire CD Collection Signed,T-Shirt, Poster And DVD ANDA Free Concert in Your Home!

$3500.00 and Up Contributors Anyone who contributes $3500.00 or more will receive a “Special Thanks” credit on the CD.

$5000.00 and Up Contributors For those who contribute $5000.00, along with everything previously mentioned, you will a receive a Co-Executive Producer credit on the CD.

We would prefer if all contributions go directly to John via PayPal (https://www.paypal.com) using this account: johnbatdorf@att.net

If other arrangements are necessary, please contact us with any questions or for Johns’ mailing address: RMJProd@gmail.com

Thank You,

RMJ Productions

(Richard Mike Jeanette)

on behalf of John Batdorf

Thursday, April 2, 2009

An Evening with John Batdorf: 4/18 Los Angeles CA

Saturday, 18 April 2009 @ 8pm
An Evening With John Batdorf
With Guest Performers Michael McLean and Bill Batstone

Boulevard Music
4316 Sepulveda Blvd., Culver City, CA 90230
(310) 398-2583
http://www.boulevardmusic.com/
Price: $15.00
It's Not the CD Release Party - but it's pretty darn close!
Reservations Recommended!